Nodding Plumeless Thistle
Carduus nutans
- Native to:
- Afghanistan, Albania, Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Czechia-Slovakia, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Netherlands, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Robert Flogaus-Faust
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Asteraceae
- Genus:
- Carduus
- Species:
- Carduus nutans
- USDA Symbol:
- CANU4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Biennial | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, purple, red
Host Plant for Caterpillars
American sunflower moth (Homoeosoma electella), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Bees: American bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus), Black and gold bumble bee (Bombus auricomus), Bombus californicus, Brown-belted bumble bee (Bombus griseocollis), Central bumble bee (Bombus centralis), Half-black bumble bee (Bombus vagans), Indiscriminate cuckoo bumble bee (Bombus insularis), Morrison bumble bee (Bombus morrisoni), Nevada bumble bee (Bombus nevadensis), Red-belted bumble bee (Bombus rufocinctus), Two-form bumble bee (Bombus bifarius), Two-spotted bumble (Bombus bimaculatus), Western bumble bee (Bombus occidentalis), White-shouldered bumble bee (Bombus appositus), Yellow bumble bee (Bombus fervidus), Yellow head bumble bee (Bombus flavifrons) Butterflies:Argynnis edwardsii, Great Spangled (Argynnis cybele)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- bees, butterflies, birds (goldfinches feed on seeds)
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- well-drained, nutrient-poor sandy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in disturbed soils and open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination. Germination is temperature dependent and occurs best at 15-25°C.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI